Strand gauge



1927' I c. H, HITCHCOCK STRAND GAUGE Filed July 9, 1923 Ejz.

F/L IHLIlllllllIIII Tlllllllllllllll llllll| 2/ MAX. W NORMAL HIM.

1721/2227)? CarZHHllchcop/t 0 Man Y 7 Patented Jan. 18, 1927. v 1,514,553

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL HUNTLEY HITCHCOCK, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STRAND GAUGE.

Application filed July 9, 1923. Serial No. 650,291.

This invention relates to strand gauges, cates whether the diameter of the strand is 55 and more particularly to a gauge for deternormal or within the prescribed allowable mining the diameter of insulated conductors limits. of the pulp and ribbon insulated types used These and other objects of the invention in the telephone art. not specifically mentioned will clearly ap- An object of the invention is to provide a pear from the following description and the 6 gauge adapted to be placed over a strand and accompanying drawing, upon a relative movement therebetween to Fig. 1 of which shows a View, in elevation, automatically indicate a measurement of the of a gauge embodying the invention mounted in strand. on an insulated conductor;

Another object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 2 is a horizontal vertical sectional 6e vide a gauge adapted to be placed over a view thereof; strand and upon a relative movement there- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig.

between to indicate variations in a measure- 2 looking in the direction indicated by the ment of the strand. arrows;

A further object of the invention is to Fig. 4 is an end elevation, and .70 provide a gauge adapted to be placed over Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the an insulated conductor and upon a relative manner of mounting the sleeve and two part movement therebetween to automatically infriction die on the insulated wire.

dicate whether the diameter of the insulated Referring to the drawing in detail, 10

conductor is normal or within certain prerepresents a casing or hand grip member for scribed maximum or minimum limits. supporting the movable parts of the gauge.

A still further object of the invention is Caps 11 and 12 are secured by screw threads to provide a gauge of the above mentioned to either end of the casing 10 for retaining 25 type which may be placed over a moving inthe movable parts therein. The casing 10 sulated conductor as it leaves an insulating and caps 11 and 12 are slotted, as indicated machine to measure any or all portions of at 13, from end to end and from their pethe insulated wire without breaking the conripheries to their axes as clearly shown in ductor or disturbing the insulation. Figs. 1 and 4., for the purpose of mounting 30 An additional object of the invention is the gauge on the moving insulated wire as to provide a gauge of the above mentioned it leaves the insulating machine. The slot type which is adapted to be readily changed .13 is of suitable width to accommodate or adjusted whereby strands or insulated strands having dlanieters within a certain conductors of various diameters, and in the range. Fitted within the casing 10 and case of the latter covered with insulation of adapted to slide freely therein, is a sleeve 14:

varying degrees of compressibility, may be provided with a tapered bore 15 and also measured with equally efficient results. slotted from end to end so that 1t may be A gauge made in accordance with the inmounted on the moving conductor. Fitted vention may comprise a casing or hand grip within the tapered bore 15 of the sleeve 14 member within which is loosely mounted a is a two part cone shaped die 17 which is sleeve, both the hand grip and sleeve being shaped to closely fit the tapered bore '15 of slotted longitudinally to permit their being the sleeve 14. The tapered bore of the placed over astrand. The sleeve is provided sleeve 14 holds the two part die 17 in corwith a tapered bore within which is mounted rect alignment, thereby holding the opening 45 a twopart cone shaped friction sleeve or die therein to afixed diameter. Mounted to fit adapted to encircle and frictionally engage snugly within the bore of the casing 10, but

the strand. The first-mentioned sleeve is freely slidable therein, is a disk 20 which is retained in its normal position by suitable slotted in a manner and for the same purpose springs and moves against the action thereof as the other slotted parts. Suitably secured in response to the friction encountered by the to the disk 20 at diametrlcally opposite strand during relative movement therebepoints are two pins 21 which at thelr op- 1'05 tween. A circumferential marking upon the -posite ends pass freely through suitable sleeve co-operating with a suitably calibratopenings formedin the cap 12. The ends ed scale upon the hand grip member 1ndiof the pins 21 which pro ect through the cap 12 are tapered as indicated at 22 and enter suitable openings 25' formed-in a. U sha-ped retaining plate 23. The openings 25 in the plate 23 are formed to grip tightly the tapered endsthat they may not beeasily removed .to allow the mounting of a different set of springs upon the pins as required, the reasoni'or which will be explained hereafter.

Carried upon each of the pins 21 is a helicalcompression spring 27 which rests at one end against the inside ofthe cap 12 and at the opposite end against the disk 20. The springs 27 are adapt-ed to be compressed when the sleeve 14L is moved mresponse to the friction encountered by the conductor in passing through the two part die. Thed rection of movement of the-strand, is indicated by an arrow in'the drawings. A circumferential mark indicated at 30 uponthe sleeve 14; cooperates with: a scale indicated at 31 on the stationary casing 10.. The scale 31 is calibrated to indicate by the movement of the mark. 30 whether the conductor as it leaves the insulating machine is of 'thedesired diameter, or within the maximumor minimum limits thereof.

The, mounting of the. gauge aroundfthe conductor is. as follows:

The gauge is partially disassembled by removingthe slotted cap 11 and withdrawing the sleeve 14 which carries the split die 17 The die is then removed and the slotted sleeve is mounted on the conductor by pass ing the conductor throughthe slot formed therein, after which a spht die, the two members of which vform a suitable opening for the conductor to be measured,is positioned ,therearound and .moved lengthwise thereof and into the sleeve 14 as clearly shown in Fig.5. The other members of, the gauge carried by the slotted casing lt), comprising slotted cap 12,-,p1ns 21.1nount1ng the springs 27 and the slotted. disk 20 and plate 23 are,

then mounted around the conductor by passing the conductor through the slots formed. in the various parts. The open end of-tlhe;

casing and the sleeve 14 are then brought together and the sleeve entered within the casing, after which. the slotted. cap 11 is mounted around the conductor and. then moved into engagement. with the casing 10 and threaded thereon, In mounting ,the sleeve 14: on the conductor, the small end of the tapered bore is positioned inthe casing in the direction. in which the conductor. is moving so that the movement of the die 17. in response to.the.frictionencountered by the conductor in passing therethrough will align it perfectly within the sleeve and cause it to move therewith,

The gauge may be used asa portablehand gauge to be mounted, atintervalsaround a strand being manufactured or covered and held in position by an operator, or it may 22 0f the. pins, buttnotso tight becarried by a suitable bracket, whereby it will'at alltimes indicat-eia measurement or variations in a measurement of the strand.

The operation of the gauge is follows:

After theniounting of the gauge upon the moving conductorrthe friction between the die and the conductor will cause thedi-e to move, and with it the sleeve 1%, and if the mark 30 thereon fluctuates consistently within a few of the scalemarkings at either side of thepoint marked Normal the insulated conductor is clearly ot the desired dian'ieter, or the markwnce in a while moves either to the point marked Man. or Min. the conductor is still considered as of the desired -(ll2111 'l6l'.01. However, it" the mark -30 fluctuates consistently near either oi" the points marked Max. or lvlin. the diameter of the insulated conductor is not within the prescribed limits.

The gauge is adapted to be changed or adjusted .to accommodate strands or insulatedconduotors of various diameters and in the case of the latter, covered with insulation of varying degrees of compressibility. V hen aninsulated conductor of larger or smaller diameter is'toibe measured, the two part die is removed and one with the required opening to suit the conductor to be measuredv is mounted in'position. In tle case of an easily compressible covering or insulation on the strand or conductor, which covering ai'lords a better grip upon the die, the springs are changed and replaced by springsot less strength to compensate "for the better grip ottheconductor upon the die.

What is claimed is':

1. Astrand gauge comprising a member adapted to engage all;points of the periphery of, 'a strand, means responsive to a relativelongitudinal movement of the member and the strand to' indicate a measure ment of the strand,'and yieldable means for resistingsuch movement.

2. 'Astrand gauge comprising a casing, a die for the strand and mounted in the easing, said die movable within the casing in response to and parallel with the longitudinal movement of the strand engaged thereby,-and resilient means for resisting such movement, said casing and die bearing cooperative markings for indicating a measurement of the strand in response to a rel ative movement of the die and the strand.

3.'A strand gauge comprising a slotted casing, a split die for the strand and mount ed in the casing, said slotted casing and split die adapted. to be positioned around a strand intermediate the ends thereof, said diemovable within the casing in response to and parallel with the longitudinal movement of the strand engaged thereby, and yieldable means for resisting such 'movement, said casing and die bearing markings cooperating responsive to a relative movement of the die and the strand to indicate a measurement of the strand.

at. A strand gauge comprising a member adapted to frictionally engage a strand, a support therefor, said support and said member bearing markings cooperating to indicate upon a. relative longitudinal movement of said friction member and the strand whether the diameter of the strand is within certain prescribed limits, and yieldable means for resisting such movement.

5. A strand gauge comprising a split member adapted to be positioned in frictional engagement around a strand intermediate the ends thereof, a support therefor, said support and said member bearing markings cooperating to indicate upon a relative longitudinal movement of said friction member and the strand whether the di ameter of the strand is within certain prescribed limits, and yieldable means for resisting such movement.

6. A strand gauge comprising a sleeve adapted to frictionally engage a strand, a support therefor, said support having a calibrated scale and said sleeve having a marking to cooperate with the scale to indicate upon a relative longitudinal movement of said sleeve and the strand whether the diameter of the strand is within certain prescribed limits, and yieldable means for resisting such movement.

7. A strand gauge comprising a split sleeve adapted to be positioned around and to frictionally engage a strand intermediate the ends thereof, a support therefor, said support having a calibrated scale and said sleeve having an index marking cooperating with the scale on the sleeve to indicate upon a relative longitudinal movement of said sleeve and the strand Whether the diameter of the strand is within certain prescribed ally engage the periphery of a longitudinally moving strand, a slotted member adapted to be fitted around said tapered split sleeve, a support for said slotted member Within Which said member moves in response to the friction between the strand and split sleeve, and yieldable means between said support and slotted member adapted to resist the movement of the latter, said support and said slotted member bearing markings cooperating to indicate Whether the diameter of the strand is Within certain prescribed limits.

9. A gauge for measuring the diameter of a longitudinally moving strand, comprising a split sleeve adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of the strand, a slotted member fitting around said sleeve and adapted to retain the parts thereof in correct alignment, a support for said member upon Which said member moves in response to the friction between the strand and split sleeve, and yieldable means associated With said support and slotted member adapted to resist the movement of the latter, said support and said slotted member bearing markings cooperating to indicate whether the diameter of the strand is within certain prescribed limits.

10. A strand gauge comprising a split member adapted to be positioned around and to frictionally engage a strand, a longitudinally moving sleeve positioned therearound adapted to align and hold the opening in said split member to a fixed diameter to frictionally engage the strand, a support therefor, and.yieldable means between said support and sleeve adapted to resist the movement of said split member, said support and said split member bearing markings cooperating to indicate whether the diameter of the strand is within certain prescribed limits.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of June A. 1)., 1923.

CARL HUNTLEY HITOI-ICOCK.

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